Relief reaches blizzard-hit Tibetan prefecture
Xinhua
1549796719000

XINING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- After days of snow storms, roads in many areas of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province, are covered under snow as deep as 45 centimeters.

yushu.jpg

Snow covers roads in many areas of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Photos: Xinhua)

Tsertra, deputy director of the Yushu Disaster Relief Work and Emergency Headquarters, said one city and five other counties in Yushu were hit by the snow storms. Thousands of livestock were reported dead.

The local authority has sent vets, medicine and fodders to the blizzard-hit areas.

yushu2.jpg

Snow covers roads in many areas of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Drapa Sum, director of the health center in Gyeldo County, one of the worst-hit areas, said that he and his colleagues this week visited a number of blizzard-hit villages, some 5,000 meters above sea level on average.

"Villagers were relieved to see doctors and vets come to their rescue," said Drapa Sum.

He said the trips were extremely dangerous, as roads were buried in snow.

By Friday, 4,653 tonnes of fodders had been transported to the blizzard-hit areas. The bureau of agriculture and rural affairs with the Qinghai Provincial Government has set aside 10 million yuan (about $1.48 million) to purchase more fodders, said He Bo, deputy head of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefectural Government.

yushu3.jpg

Government emergency response team prepares to go to the site for helping affected areas.

He said the primary relief work now is to clear the snow-covered roads to ensure supplies reach the disaster-hit villages. Strong winds are blowing snow to block the roads despite the efforts to clear them.

The snowstorms have also led to the deaths of wild animals by the hundred in the region.

The Administration for the National Park of Sanjiangyuan (Three-River-Source) has earmarked a fund of 100,000 yuan for helping wild animals survive the harsh winter.